Wheel.



O. W. WILLIAMS.

WHEEL.

APPLIoATloN FILED mmm, 190s.

Patented May '7, 1912.

W/T/KfLSSES hereinafter UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORA W. WILLIAMS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W. H.

l GARDNER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented May 7, 1912.

Application filed February 24, 1908. Serial No. 417,254.

To all whom it may concern l Be it known that I, ORA W. WILLIAMS, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a wheel having spokes of sufficient resiliency to permit the use of a non-pneumatic tire and form a yielding support for a vehicle.

A further object is to simplify and irnprove the type of wheel shown-and described in a certain pending application Serial No. 338,889,1iled by me October 15, 1906.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as described and particularly pointed out in the claims. l

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel partially broken away,-

embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the wheel through the hub and rim. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the rim. s, In the drawing, 2 represents the hub cylindrical in form adapted to receive and supportthe axle skein, and having a cap 3 at one end. The periphery of said hub on each side of the transverse center thereof is provided with annular webs 4 having sockets 5 and 6 therein for the ends of the spokes. These sockets extend lengthwise of the hub and are of sufficient size to receive several met-al bushings 7 into which the ends of the spokes are inserted. The spokes 8 correspond substantially in form to one anotherv and have inwardly turned ends 9 adapted to project through their bearings in the bushings into an annular recess 10 provided at the center of the hub. The ends of these spokes have annular grooves 11 therein and curved locking plates 12 are provided to tit into the annular grooves in the hub and have lips"13 which are adapted to enter the grooves in the end s of the spokes and lock them in their bearings. The plates 12 are preferablysemrcircularin form and made in two parts and are held together by bolts 14 Awhen the wheel is assembled. The spokes are arranged in groups at each end of thehub, there being an inner and an outer group at each end, the spokes of the outer groups radiating outwardly to the edge of the rim on the same side of the wheel. The

sults in 'the inner groups of spokes at one end of the hub crossing the corresponding spokes ofthe same group at the other end of the hub, and greatly strengthens and braces the wheel against lateral strain. The outer ends of the contiguous spokes of different groups at the same end of the hub, are oppositely turned `near the rim and have curved portions 15 that are adaptedto-bear on the rim. This rim is preferably made up of an inner metallic ring 16, an outer ring 17 and fellies of wood or other suitable material 18 between them. The' inner ring has sockets 19 at intervals therein and the ends 1 5 of thefspokes have outwardly turnedlportions 20 adapted to enter said sockets. The spokes of the inner groups are secured to the rim in a'corresponding manner, and have substantially the same bearing surface thereon.

Clamp plates 21 are provided extending crosswise of the rim and adapted to bear on the ends of' the` spokes and lock them rigidlyagainst the ring 16. There are pref-` These tread surfaces or tire are of ordinary construction and are mounted on the rim in the usual way., 'l

I prefer also to provide a grip chain 27 having a series of teeth 28 adapted to be placed on the wheel between the tread surfaces, the teeth projecting out beyond the tires 26 and adapted to dig into the snow from one end of the hub are turned in- Wardly to the other side of the wheel and cross the corresponding spokes radiating from the hub on that side, thus bracing uthe wheel against lateral strain, as When ymay employ a yielding material such as rubber. The wheel may be made in difl'erent sizes and thespokes of dilferent cross sectional area or gage, according to the character of the vehicle upon which the wheel is to be used.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wheel comprising a hub, and a series of resilient spokes radiating from each end of said' hub on curved lines, the outer portions of corresponding spokes at opposite ends of the hub/being oppositely curved and crossing) one another and the plane of the wheel, a rim, said spokes fiexing in a direction parallel substantially withthe plane of the wheel and said spokes having their outer ends secured to Isaid rim on opposite sides of the peripheral center thereof.

2. A wheel, comprising a hub, and a se'-` 'ries of resilient spokes radiating therefrom oncurved lines at each end of the hub, the

spo res on each end of the hub consisting of an inner and outer group, the spokes of each innergroup being inwardly turned and intersecting the opposite spokes ofthe corresponding group at the other end of the hub, a rim, and means for securing the outer i portions of said spokes to said rim.

8. A wheel comprislng a rim, a hub and a series of resilient spokesradiating there-l from, said yspokes consisting of` inner and outer groups at each end ofthe hub, the spokes ofthe onter groups radiating'to the edge of the rim on the same side of the wheel andthe vspokes ofthe inner groups crossing the plane of the wheel and one another to the'edges of the rirn/ on the opv posite side of the wheel.

LLVA wheel comprising a hub and la series of resilient spokes' radiating therefrom on c rved lines, a run, some of said spokes radiating to the edge of thei-rim on the same side of the wheel and others of said spokes crossing the plane of the wheel to the edge of the rim on the opposite side of the wheel, said spokes flexing in a direction parallel substantially with the plane of the Wheel and means for securing the outer ends of said spokes to the rim.

5. The combination, with a hub having annular Webs formed thereon and bearingsv 'spokes extending from the sockets to the corresponding edge portion of the rim, and

others of the spokes crossing to the opposite edge of the rim.

7. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub having enlarged portions with longitudinal sockets therethrough, the outer ends of the alternating sockets on each end portion-of the hub being in different vertical planes, a series of curved resilient spokes extending from t-he sockets, the spokes from one set of sockets extending to the corresponding edge of the rim, and the spokes of the next set of sockets crossing to the opposite edge of the rim, and a rim secured to the outer ends of the spokes.

8. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub, a rim, and curved spring spokes having their inner ends secured ,to the hub and their outer ends secured to the rim, spokes extending from one end portion of ythe hub to the corresponding edge portion of the rim, and others of the spokes crossing to the'opposite edge of the rim.

9. A vehicle wheel comprising a rim, a hub having annular webs formed thereon and bearings therein, resilient spokes having inwardly turned ends fitting within said bearings and transverse grooves in said ends, and locking plates engaging said grooves.

Iii-witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of February 1908.

' v y ORA W. WILLIAMS. Witnesses: v

RIGHARD'PAUL, v J. W. BYINGTON.

a part of the 

